Remembering estate life at William Morley Close reunion
.Betty Prior, Kellie Prior, Gemma Byrne, Pauline Verrent and Jaime Hunt on the William Morley Close estate - Credit: Archant
Tucked away behind the Boleyn Ground is William Morley Close, an estate that appears worlds away from the glamour of the footballing lifestyle.
A street party to celebrate the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981 - Credit: Jaime Hunt
But it’s an estate that many people have called home over the years, including Jaime Hunt, who is organising a reunion of current and former residents.
“It’s got a bit of a bad reputation so it’s nice to do something positive,” she said.
“We’re raising money for Richard House Children’s Hospice and a domestic violence charity, in honour of a neighbour from the estate who was killed.”
Jaime, 36, moved off the estate so she could live with her partner when her son was born but still regularly returns to visit friends.
Children from the estate at Old Priory Park in the early 1980s - Credit: Jaime Hunt
“I’m so glad I grew up on an estate,” she said.
“We used to play out as children, which is something you can’t do if you live on the street, and parents used to look out for us all.”
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The community spirit of the estate has seen it host several street parties over the years, where neighbours would gather to celebrate and get to know each other better.
“I knew all my neighbours, and I still say hello if I see them when I’m out,” added Jaime, who now lives in Custom House
A group of children on the estate in the 1980s - Credit: Jaime Hunt
“My friends that grew up on a street don’t know their neighbours.”
The reunion, on June 12, will be held at East Ham working man’s club.
Jaime said: “We wanted it to be a place with a lot of memories for people from the estate.
“We used to go up there as children with our parents a lot.”
A boy from the estate on a bike in the 1980s - Credit: Jaime Hunt
She hopes that the reunion will allow former neighbours to reconnect and remember good times on William Morley Close.
“Some people have lived on the estate since it was built,” she said.
“Others have come and gone but we want this reunion to be for everyone that lived on the estate at some point.”
Tickets for the reunion cost £10 and are available from Jaime by calling 07930 888051.
